Energy Department and National Park Service Announce Clean Cities
Partnership to Drive Sustainable National ParksEfforts to Help Reduce Reliance on Imported Oil, Protect America�s Natural Resources

WASHINGTON � As
part of the Obama
Administration�s
commitments to
reducing America�s
reliance on imported
oil and protecting
our nation�s air and
water, the U.S.
Energy Department
and the National
Park Service today
announced that five
national parks
around the country
will deploy fuel
efficient and
alternative fuel
vehicles as part of
an expanded
partnership, helping
to protect some of
America�s most
prized natural
environments.

�Through the
Clean Cities
partnership, the
Energy Department
and the National
Park Service are
helping to protect
America�s natural
resources and put
our country on the
path to a clean
energy future,� said
Assistant Secretary
for Energy
Efficiency and
Renewable Energy
David Danielson. �By
advancing access to
alternative fuel and
fuel efficient
vehicles, we are
working to reduce
our reliance on
imported oil,
increase our energy
security and create
jobs across the
country.�

Through these
efforts, the Energy
Department is
expanding its
partnership with the
National Park
Service to increase
the efficiency and
alternative fuel use
of vehicle fleets at
these national
parks, impacting
over 32 million
visitors annually
while saving
$250,000, fuel
equivalent to nearly
16,000 gallons of
gasoline, and about
83 tons of
greenhouse gases
each year. In
addition to
improving the parks�
fleets, the planned
projects will
showcase alternative
fuels, advanced
technology vehicles,
ways to reduce
vehicle idling, and
other actions
drivers can take to
save fuel and money.

�This partnership
helps us meet a
�Green our Rides�
goal � one of nine
goals we�ve adopted
in a Green Parks
Plan to reduce our
overall carbon
footprint,� said
National Park
Service Director
Jonathan B. Jarvis.
�Changing to
alternative fuel
vehicles and
technologies aligns
with our commitment
to demonstrate that
resource stewardship
and sustainability
are connected. And
there are multiple
benefits � we use
less petroleum which
saves money and
reduces air
pollution in
America�s national
parks. Some of these
alternative fuel
vehicles are
multi-passenger
rides devoted to
park visitors and
that means even
greater reductions
in greenhouse gas
emissions. When
visitors park their
vehicles to enjoy
the park by shuttle
or bicycle, they can
experience even more
of the scenery,
history and
wildlife.�

Each of these
national parks is
collaborating with
at least one of the
Energy Department�s
Clean Cities
coalitions to choose
the best clean
energy options for
its fleet. These
newly participating
parks include:

Shenandoah
National Park,
Virginia:
Shenandoah
National Park
plans to partner
with Virginia
Clean Cities to
deploy an
all-electric
vehicle (EV), a
plug-in hybrid
EV, and 12
propane lawn
mowers. The park
also plans to
install three EV
chargers, two of
which will be
accessible to
park visitors.

San
Antonio Missions
National
Historical Park,
Texas: San
Antonio Missions
National
Historical Park
plans to partner
with Alamo Area
Clean Cities to
deploy a
propane-powered
truck and an
electric utility
truck, and to
install two EV
chargers that
will be
available to the
public.

Golden
Gate National
Recreation Area,
California:
Golden Gate
National
Recreation Area
plans to partner
with San
Francisco Clean
Cities to
install five EV
chargers, which
will serve both
the public and
the park�s five
new electric
vehicles. The
park also plans
to upgrade its
heavy-duty
maintenance
equipment to run
on a biodiesel
blend and the
fueling
infrastructure
to support it.

Mesa
Verde National
Park, Colorado:
Mesa Verde
National Park
plans to partner
with both the
Southern
Colorado and
Philadelphia
Clean Cities
coalitions to
deploy a new
propane bus,
shuttle van,
truck, and
lawnmower, along
with two propane
fueling
stations. Mesa
Verde is also
launching a
park-wide
initiative to
educate the
public about the
benefits of idle
reduction.

These new
projects build upon
the success of
three pilot projects
launched last year
at Grand Teton
National Park,
Mammoth Cave
National Park, and
Yellowstone National
Park. The parks
predict their
combined projects
will save more than
13,000 equivalent
gallons of gasoline
and about 100 tons
of greenhouse gases
annually, as well as
reaching 6.5 million
visitors each year.

The Energy
Department has been
working with the
National Park
Service since 1999
to support the use
of clean, renewable
and alternative
fuels, electric
drive vehicles, and
other energy-saving
practices to help
preserve air quality
and promote the use
of domestic energy
resources in the
parks. Through the
expanded
partnership, the
Energy Department is
providing $1.1
million for the park
projects announced
today.